现代英语口语表示法500例（11）

· grease someone"s palm贿赂，给某人好处

It is reported that Sydney has greased the palms of someone members of IOC for the right to hold 2000 Olympic Games.

· get peanuts微不足道的钱

He gets paid peanuts although he often works extra hours.

· cast pearls before swine对牛弹琴，明珠暗投

My boss is an idiot. Working for him is just like casting pearls before swine.

· feel like a square peg¹ in a round hole感到格格不入，不适合

After graduation, I remained as a teacher in college. Whenever our former classmates have a get-together², I always feel like a square peg in a round hole. All they talk about are ways to make money, expensive hotels, luxurious³ entertainment, things I have no experiences to share with them.

· pinch pennies节俭

Though he is a tycoon⁴, he pinches pennies in daily life.

· rob Peter to pay Paul拆东墙，补西墙

You borrow money from me to pay the bank loan. It is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

· be no picnic不是件轻松的事

To learn one foreign language is possible. But to be a bilingual is no picnic.

· sugar the pill给人一点甜头安慰一下

Sonia didn"t want to work extra hours quite often, but the manager sugared the pill by promising⁵ her a trip abroad at the end of the year.

· be on pins and needles坐立不安

He is a very modest man. When others praise him, he feel on pins and needles.

· put that in your pipe and smoke it你好好考虑考虑吧
此句常用于祈使句

Don"t take it out on me. It is he who makes you lose so much money. Put it in your pipe and smoke it!

· play up to someone拍某人的马屁

The young actress played up to the director, hoping to get a role in the TV series.

· take the plunge⁶踌躇一段时间后断然决定去干……

The commander finally took the plunge and launched the final attack.

· play possum装糊涂，装傻

He often quarrels with his wife. When he comes to me for advice, I can do nothing but play possum.

· drop something like a hot potato赶紧抛弃，放弃

He has been dreaming of owning his own car. But when he knew a car would cost ten years" of his salary, he drop the idea like a hot potato.

· sing someone"s praises颂扬某人

The lawyer is quite successful. His clients sing his praises to others.

· be past praying for不可救药

When I sent my cat to the vet⁷, he said that it was past praying for.

· be sitting pretty享受安乐生活

Our company survived the economic crisis and now we are sitting pretty.

· pocket one"s pride放下架子

The laid-off workers from the state-owned enterprises should pocket their pride and seek for re-employment.